The ‘silent killer’ lurks in hot weather and air conditioning
大熱天進出冷氣房 小心腦動脈瘤爆裂

Ko Chung-po, a neurosurgeon at Tungs’ Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, points to a computed tomography angiography (CTA) scan of a brain aneurysm patient in Greater Taichung on July 18.童綜合醫院神經外科醫師柯宗伯，七月十八日於台中指著一張腦動脈瘤爆裂患者的電腦斷層血管攝影檢查畫面。

Photo: Ou Su-mei, Liberty Times照片：自由時報記者歐素美

Significant differences in temperature, continually being in the sultry heat, basking in the sun outdoors and then cooling off in air-conditioned rooms can increase one’s risk of heatstroke, and causes a lurking chance of having a brain aneurysm. Tungs’ Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital recently treated several brain aneurysm patients who were all saved by having emergency surgeries.

A 39-year-old woman, surnamed Wei, after suffering an intense headache that came out of the blue and subsequently going into a coma, was rushed to the hospital by her family. Ko Chung-po, a neurosurgeon at the hospital, used a computed tomography angiography (CTA) scan to confirm that she was having a brain aneurysm. Wei has been recovering well at the hospital after doctors performed a craniotomy, surgically clipped the aneurysm and removed the blood clots.

A 62-year-old woman, surnamed Liu, who was also at home when she suddenly had a headache, was taken to the hospital for a checkup, where it was discovered that she had hemorrhaging in the brain. After being transferred to Tungs’ Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, it was confirmed that she was having a brain aneurysm and an emergency operation was able to save her life.

Ko says that with the changing of the seasons, temperatures can differ widely or drop suddenly, which can increase one’s risk of having a brain aneurysm. Most people are unaware when they are having a brain aneurysm, and that is why the condition is often called the “silent killer.”

Groups most at risk of having brain aneurysms include people with high blood pressure, and those people who smoke or drink alcohol excessively.